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Why do ethnic elders present later to UK dementia services? A qualitative study
Mukadam N, Cooper C, Basit B, Livingston G.. International psychogeriatrics, 2011-02-24
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Western policy initiatives prioritize early diagnosis of dementia, but minority ethnic (ME) people currently present later to dementia specialist care than their indigenous counterparts. In order to allow the development of rational interventions, we completed this first study to explore the link between attitudes to help-seeking for dementia and the help-seeking pathway in the ME and indigenous population. Methods We purposively recruited a maximum variation sample comprising 18 family carers of people with dementia from the major UK ethnic groups. We used semi-structured interviews to determine the barriers to and facilitators of help-seeking, and the pathways to diagnosis. Two researchers independently coded interviews and recruitment continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Results ME carers, in contrast to the indigenous population, tended to delay help-seeking until they could no longer cope or until others commented on the problems. They often thought that families should look after their own elders and a diagnosis alone was purposeless. This appeared to relate to beliefs about the etiology of cognitive impairment, negative beliefs about psychiatry and their sense of familial responsibility. Conclusions ME carer beliefs were an important barrier to early diagnosis. Further work should explore whether an intervention can modify these attitudes, so that families understand that a diagnosis may allow planning and avoidance of crises; rather than signifying a failure in duty, disloyalty, or relinquishing of the caring role. Further research should focus on developing interventions to tackle barriers to help-seeking in ethnic minorities so that healthcare access can be equitable for all.
Key findings
- Results ME carers, in contrast to the indigenous population, tended to delay help-seeking until they could no longer cope or until others commented on the problems.
Why it matters
This qualitative study of UK family carers found that minority ethnic carers tended to delay seeking help for dementia until they could no longer cope, often believing families should care for their own elders and that a diagnosis alone was purposeless. These beliefs were an important barrier to early diagnosis, but the study does not test any treatment or cure.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International psychogeriatrics) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | International Psychogeriatrics: journal h-index 161 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2011 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 142 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.4 citations a year over 17 year(s) since 2011 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 8 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 31 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Gill Livingston: h-index 99 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University College London: institution h-index 2,029 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 21349212) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1017/s1041610211000214
- PubMed: 21349212
- Original source →
- Free full text: International Psychogeriatrics →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Mukadam, N., Cooper, C., Basit, B., & Livingston, G. (2011). Why do ethnic elders present later to UK dementia services? A qualitative study. International psychogeriatrics. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1041610211000214
Vancouver
Mukadam N, Cooper C, Basit B, Livingston G. Why do ethnic elders present later to UK dementia services? A qualitative study. International psychogeriatrics. 2011. doi:10.1017/s1041610211000214. PMID: 21349212.
BibTeX
@article{mukadam2011-21349212,
author = {Mukadam, N. and Cooper, C. and Basit, B. and Livingston, G.},
title = {{Why do ethnic elders present later to UK dementia services? A qualitative study}},
journal = {International psychogeriatrics},
year = {2011},
doi = {10.1017/s1041610211000214},
pmid = {21349212},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/s1041610211000214}
}
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